Offensive coordinator Brent Pease confirmed on Tuesday that Jeff Driskel is using crutches rather than a walking boot to move around on his sprained right ankle.
Coach Will Muschamp said on Monday that Driskel is doubtful for this weekend’s game against Jacksonville State after suffering the injury in Florida’s 27-20 win against Louisiana on Saturday.
“It just kind of depends day-to-day with the training room,” Pease said of Driskel’s chances of practicing this week.
If Driskel doesn’t play, sophomore Jacoby Brissett will start in his place. Pease said Brissett’s strong work ethic despite not winning the starting job will serve him well.
“He’s been admirable about what he’s done,” Pease said. “To have to make some plays, as opposed to just taking reps to end the game, it shows he’s prepared.”
Pease expects Brissett to be more pumped up than usual.
“He’ll have probably a little more juice in his step,” Pease said. “He’s probably going to be pretty excited.”
Run game: In the first half of the season, Mike Gillislee carried the UF offense. In the latter half, he hasn’t produced at the same rate.
However, the Gators do not fault Gillislee for his statistical downturn.
“They’re getting numbers in the box and their run fits are just plugging all of our gaps,” Pease said. “What we saw early is big runs. Now people have seen those plays. They’re making sure they’re sound on run fits.”
Facing loaded fronts has had a noticeable effect on the senior’s numbers. Gillislee’s yardage total stood at 548 following the Gators’ 14-6 victory against LSU on Oct. 6 for an average of 109.6 yards per game. In Florida’s past five games, Gillislee has run for 58.8 yards per contest.
Left tackle Xavier Nixon said the offensive linemen can block more effectively.
“Just keep grinding it out and try to defeat our opponents’ will and things will open up,” Nixon said.
Kickin’ it: Caleb Sturgis may be a Lou Groza Award semifinalist this year, but he does not consider himself beyond criticism. The St. Augustine native is his own harshest critic.
“I didn’t kick off very well this past week,” Sturgis said. “(I) hurt the kickoff coverage team, but I’ve felt that I’ve made improvements on kickoffs this year.”
Sturgis had just one touchback on six kickoffs against Louisiana. His touchback percentage of 45.3 ranks 38th nationally. He finished 2011 ranked 47th.
The senior kicker has reached his preseason goal of converting on 85 percent of his field goal attempts. Sturgis has 17 makes in 20 tries — exactly 85 percent.
“I just wanted to help the team in big situations, or any situations, really,” Sturgis said. “Just go out there and put points on the board any time I’m out there. But I’ve done a pretty good job at that, could always do better.”
Contact Josh Jurnovoy at jjurnovoy@alligator.org.
